LAS VEGAS – If Tyron Woodley was looking to make a statement on behalf of Strikeforce, consider it made.

If he was looking to rebound after a rough knockout loss his most recent time out, consider it done.

Woodley wasted no time and delivered a brutal 36-second knockout of Jay Hieron, knocking the veteran down and pouncing before leaving him out cold on the canvas.

The welterweight bout was part of the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 156 event at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It aired on FX after additional prelims on Facebook and prior to a main card on pay-per-view.

Woodley came forward quickly and landed a right hand right to Hieron’s left ear that dropped him. He gave Hieron no time to recover.

Woodley pounced on him, landing several big shots on the ground from Woodley’s back. As Hieron rolled over onto his back, Woodley landed four strikes – the fourth of which was nothing short of massive.

Referee Herb Dean stopped it as Hieron went stiff on his back, his legs shaking from the knockout.

It was the third straight win on the card for fighters crossing over from Strikeforce and making their UFC debuts.

“It feels amazing,” Woodley said. “I’m declaring war on the welterweight division. I want to make a statement in the UFC for my family and the people who support me. I’m glad I finished by knockout. This year is mine.”

Woodley (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is back in the win column after suffering a fourth-round knockout loss to Nate Marquardt this past July in a Strikeforce welterweight title fight. That setback was the first loss of his pro career. Hieron (23-7 MMA, 0-4 UFC), a highly prized signing in 2012, now has dropped two straight since his return to the UFC. The recent Bellator title challenger lost his return by unanimous decision to Jake Ellenberger in October.

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